Skylanders Swap Force - Nintendo Wiihttp://www.gameinformer.com/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/wii/atom.aspxCommunity Server2013-06-12T17:03:36ZSkylanders Boomcast Web Series Kicks Off Today/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/wii/archive/2013/10/04/skylanders-boomcast-web-series-kicks-off-today.aspx2013-10-04T12:01:00Z2013-10-04T12:01:00Z<p><img style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/activision2013/skylandersswap/boomcast/SkylandersBoomcast1-610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>With only a little over a week to go before the launch of <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/wii_u/archive/2013/09/24/activision-rotates-in-three-new-skylanders-swap-force-trailers.aspx">Skylanders: Swap Force</a>, Activision is ramping up coverage. Today marks the first of a series of weekly webisodes called the Skylanders Boomcast.</p>
<p>The series is hosted by Zachary Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and features news, gameplay tips, in-depth information on characters, and interviews with members of the team. This week&#39;s character spotlight features Fryno (and his &quot;angry bike&quot;). This precedes <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/09/30/get-ready-for-skylanders-swap-force-with-giveaways-and-times-square-event.aspx">a major event happening next week</a> right before the launch of Skylanders: Swap Force.</p>
<p>On October 10, Gordon and actor James Marsden will be in Times Square giving fans a chance to play Swap Force before its October 13 release. Prizes will be available, and one fan will get the first starter pack from Marsden.</p>
<p>You can watch the first Boomcast episode below. Skylanders: Swap Force will be out on October 13 for Wii U, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and 3DS. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions will be available alongside the launch of those consoles.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=4921504" width="1" height="1">GIMikehttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMike/default.aspxNew Video Shows Off Skylanders: Swap Force's New Features/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/wii/archive/2013/09/19/new-video-shows-off-skylanders-swap-forces-new-features.aspx2013-09-19T16:56:54Z2013-09-19T16:56:54Z<p><img style="max-width:610px;" src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/filestorage/CommunityServer.Components.SiteFiles/imagefeed/featured/activision2013/skylandersswap/WhatIsSwapForce-610.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p>
<p>In a little under a month, <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/08/01/skylanders-is-now-a-1-5-billion-franchise-call-of-duty-strong-world-of-warcraft-subscriptions-down.aspx">Activision&#39;s $1.5 billion Skylanders franchise</a> will get <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/08/12/skylanders-swap-force-goes-dark-with-collectors-edition.aspx">its third entry</a>. Today, Activision, Vicarious Visions, and n-Space (developer of <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/08/29/skylanders-swap-force-for-3ds-gets-unique-characters.aspx">the 3DS version</a>) are showing off <a href="http://www.gameinformer.com/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/ps3/archive/2013/06/12/what-s-new-in-skylanders-swap-force.aspx">the new features</a>.</p>
<p>The story takes place in a new area of Skylands, the Cloudbreak Islands. Series villain Kaos is back, trying to steal the power from a volcano that replenishes Skylands with magic.</p>
<p>The trailer also gives us a first look at the 3DS version of the game, which is a completely different tale. With Vicarious Visions heading up the console release this year, n-Space is stepping in with the 3DS version.&nbsp;</p>
<p>You can get a look at some of the new Skylanders figures, the environments, and the minigames that have been added to each level. Skylanders: Swap Force will be available on October 13, 2013, for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Wii. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be available at the launch of those consoles.</p>
<p>(Please visit the site to view this media)&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=4567227" width="1" height="1">GIMikehttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIMike/default.aspxWhat’s New In Skylanders: Swap Force/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/wii/archive/2013/06/12/what-s-new-in-skylanders-swap-force.aspx2013-06-12T22:03:36Z2013-06-12T22:03:36Z<p><img src="http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/activision/skylanders/swapforce/swapforce0612-610.jpg" border="0" style="max-width:610px;" alt="" /></p>
<p>The third entry in Activision&rsquo;s Skylanders series adds stackable heroes and a series of little touches and refinements to the billion-dollar franchise.</p>
<p>The game introduces 32 new characters to the game, divided between traditional Skylanders and the new Swap Force heroes. The latter can be split in half &ndash; tops and bottoms &ndash; to create hybrid characters. For example, we saw Stink Bomb (a ninja-star tossing skunk) trade bottom halves with tornado bird Free Ranger to create Stink Ranger, a hero with long-range capabilities and a nice projectile-dodging skill.</p>
<p>The game adds a twist on elemental gates, which are used to keep optional content away from players who don&rsquo;t have the correct elemental type. These new dual-elemental gates require either two heroes, one from each elemental type (such as fire and ice), or a hybrid character composed of the appropriate types.</p>
<p>Another new mechanic is essentially elemental gates that have gameplay attached. We saw one in action. A ladder icon was only navigable by a specific character. Rather than simply having a door open, players have to scale up the wall in a minigame, dodging falling crates and taking cover under automated platforms. Activision says other minigames will take advantage of characters&rsquo; flying, digging, and teleporting capabilities.</p>
<p>Players can finally jump in the game, which opens up a variety of platforming opportunities. Those leaps will also allow players to find hidden objects in levels, such as map pieces, which unlock bonus missions.</p>
<p>The game is coming for the 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, and PS4 this year.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://www.gameinformer.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2984200" width="1" height="1">GIJeffhttp://www.gameinformer.com/members/GIJeff/default.aspx